The Backwoods Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Vacationing city folk find a kid, then they become the hunted by hillbillies protecting a secret; it’s basically ‘Deliverance’ but with more awkward silences and less banjo music.

🍿 The Backwoods: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Arrival in the Backwoods

In 1978, two English couples, Paul and Isabel, and Norman and Lucy, travel to a remote area of Spain. Paul and Isabel own a house there, and they’ve invited Norman and Lucy in hopes of helping them overcome a difficult patch in their relationship after a recent loss. The remote location promises a peaceful escape, but tensions simmer beneath the surface.

Discovery in the Woods

While hunting in the dense woods, Paul and Norman stumble upon an abandoned cabin. Inside, they discover a young girl with severely deformed hands, locked away in squalid conditions. Disturbed by her condition and apparent captivity, they decide to rescue her. However, their attempt to help puts them on a collision course with the local villagers.

Conflict with the Locals

The villagers, aware of the girl’s disappearance, begin a relentless search. It quickly becomes apparent they are determined to keep the girl hidden and are willing to use violence to achieve their goals. The couples find themselves caught in a desperate struggle for survival, facing the hostility of a community guarding a dark secret.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Paul (Gary Oldman): An Englishman who buys his grandmother’s house in Spain, leading to a confrontation with the locals after discovering a hidden girl.
• Lucy (Virginie Ledoyen): A woman on holiday in Spain with her husband, struggling with their relationship and caught in a dangerous situation.
• Norman (Paddy Considine): Lucy’s husband, who experiences a transformation as he confronts the violent locals to protect his wife.
• Isabel (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón): Paul’s wife, a local woman who is caught between her husband and her community during the escalating conflict.
• Lechón (Jon Ariño): A member of the local villagers, involved in the pursuit of the escaped girl and confrontation with the English tourists.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Norman: “I’m just trying to think!” – Norman says this when frustrated during the crisis.
• Paul: “Don’t think! Let me think for both of us!” – Paul’s response to Norman, highlighting his dominant personality.

💰Box Office

• Budget: €3,600,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $123,913

💥 The Backwoods Reviews

Personal Review

I found this movie pretty disturbing and uncomfortable to watch, in a good way! It’s not necessarily scary but keeps you on edge the whole time. Gary Oldman’s always fantastic, and I found myself rooting for him and his friend even though they made some questionable choices. The ending left me feeling a bit empty, but sometimes that’s what makes a film stick with you. Overall, a solid thriller that I would recommend to people who like slow-burn suspense with a good cast.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of rural thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in Spanish cinema”
  • “Gary Oldman enthusiasts”
  • “Those who appreciate suspenseful, atmospheric films”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Attempted rape”
  • “Disturbing imagery”
  • “Strong language”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “A taut and stylish thriller in the vein of ‘Straw Dogs’ and ‘Deliverance,’ the Backwoods has solid performances, a creepy atmosphere, and delivers shocks with a heavy reliance on violence. Well executed backwoods thriller.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Despite the presences of Gary Oldman, the movie is far from perfect. The plot is rather simple and doesn’t come with plot twists. Also, I did not like the end because there can be a few interpretations, all of which are frustrating.

Audience Reactions

Viewers loved the constant tension created by the film.: The excellent cast elevated the movie, particularly Gary Oldman.

Overall Consensus: A tense and stylish thriller that is slightly let down by a confusing plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Gary Oldman, Paddy Considine, and Virginie Ledoyen were dubbed for the Spanish version of the film, except when speaking English to Spanish characters.”
• “The film is set in 1978, reflecting a period of transition in Spain following Franco’s dictatorship.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Backwoods?

As of October 2024, “The Backwoods” is available for purchase or rent on Amazon Prime Video. Check local listings for availability on other streaming platforms such as Apple TV.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Backwoods, you might like these similar films:

• Straw Dogs (1971): Explores similar themes of city dwellers confronting the brutality of rural life and defending their home.
• Deliverance (1972): Features city men on a trip who encounter hostile locals in the wilderness, leading to a fight for survival.
• Calvaire (2004): A remote and unwelcoming rural community where the protagonist encounters unsettling events and the locals display bizarre, menacing behavior.

🛒 The Backwoods Related Products

• Straw Dogs (1971) [Blu-ray]: Experience the controversial and disturbing classic that inspired ‘The Backwoods’.
• Deliverance [Blu-ray]: Classic film about a canoeing trip gone wrong in the American backwoods. Great performances. A must-have for any thriller fan.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Backwoods features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “There is a War” – performed by Leonard Cohen

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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